Father’s Day – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today. Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:01:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/en_rocket_1024.png?w=32 Father’s Day – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com 32 32 176746664 Studio Ghibli adds new range of neckties to its anime merchandise store in Japan https://soranews24.com/2026/06/05/studio-ghibli-adds-new-range-of-neckties-to-its-anime-merchandise-store-in-japan/ https://soranews24.com/2026/06/05/studio-ghibli-adds-new-range-of-neckties-to-its-anime-merchandise-store-in-japan/#comments Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:00:51 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=734509 
Bring Totoro and the gang to work with cleverly concealed character details.
One of the things we love about Studio Ghibli is the way its movies appeal to people of all ages. Even My Neighbour Totoro, which might seem like a children’s movie, with its child protagonist and fantastical characters, has wider themes of familial love and rural ideals that strike a chord across generations, garnering fans that range from toddlers through to businessmen.
In fact, toddlers who first watched the film when it was released in 1988 would now be in their 30s, making them a prime customer for Totoro nostalgia. This is a market that the studio’s specialty retail chain, Donguri Kyowakoku, is now catering to with a new release of My Neighbour Totoro neckties.
The My Neighbour Totoro Necktie 26 Spring Summer collection consists of eight silk ties, in four designs.
▼ The first design, “Nut Stripe“, comes in two colourways – navy and wine.
This tie features the adorable movements of Totoro toddling around with fallen acorns, incorporated into a neat diagonal stripe pattern.
The design might be playful, but its subdued colours make it suitable for people of all ages, from young adults to seniors.
▼ Next up, we have Clover Check, also in navy or wine.
This design features a sophisticated check pattern, with a scattering of clovers and subtle appearances from the white Small Totoro.
▼ Look closely and you’ll see a little Soot Sprite perched on a clover leaf!
▼ The third design is Circle Dot, in blue or navy.
This lovely design has small Totoros peeking out from clusters of tiny, neatly arranged dotted circles.
Like all the ties, you wouldn’t know there was a character hiding out in the design when viewing it from a distance, but up close you can appreciate all the fine details.
▼ Finally, we have Acorn Check, in turquoise or blue.
Based on a traditional Japanese checkered pattern, this design features Totoro and acorns scattered in a balanced and cleverly concealed way.
This design is said to evoke a sense of nostalgia while maintaining a modern, contemporary Japanese aesthetic.
Every tie comes with a Studio Ghibli tag, so you can keep your love for the studio close to your heart…
▼ …and a sweet gift box, which is ideal for Father’s Day gift-giving.
With so many cleverly disguised character details, these ties are a great way to bring Totoro and the gang to work while maintaining a polished and professional appearance. They’re only available while stocks last, though, both online (links below) and at Donguri Kyowakoku stores in Japan, priced at 9,350 yen (US$58.47) each.
Source: Donguri Kyowakoku
Featured image: Donguri Kyowakoku
Insert images: Donguri Kyowakoku (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2026/06/05/studio-ghibli-adds-new-range-of-neckties-to-its-anime-merchandise-store-in-japan/feed/ 0 734509 Studio Ghibli anime shop Japan necktie My Neighbor Totoro business fashion accessories movie merchandise news 26 Japanese pro baseball team’s Father’s Day message misses strike zone, triggers traumatic memories https://soranews24.com/2025/06/18/japanese-pro-baseball-teams-fathers-day-message-misses-strike-zone-triggers-traumatic-memories/ https://soranews24.com/2025/06/18/japanese-pro-baseball-teams-fathers-day-message-misses-strike-zone-triggers-traumatic-memories/#comments Tue, 17 Jun 2025 17:30:00 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=705355 
Tokyo team asked for memories about dads and baseball, found out they’re not all good ones.
Japan celebrates Father’s Day on the same day as the U.S., U.K., and Canada, so last Sunday the Yomiuri Giants, Tokyo’s professional baseball team in the Central League, wanted to give a shout-out to baseball-loving dads. The club’s official Twitter account sent out a tweet saying “Today is Father’s Day. Do you have any memories about your father and the Giants?” The account even got the ball rolling with an illustrated example, showing a middle-aged man sitting on his sofa with a bowl of potato chips on the table and a Giants game on TV, a smile and his face and his fists pumped, with the caption:
“The Giants determine what kind of mood my dad is in.”
今日は、父の日。
あなたのお父さんと
ジャイアンツの思い出はありますか。#父とジャイアンツ pic.twitter.com/EAfXUINODV— 読売巨人軍（ジャイアンツ） (@TokyoGiants) June 14, 2025
The intent, no doubt, was to bring up heartwarming memories of Pop having an extra spring in his step after a big Giants victory, or maybe even to accentuate a cute, still-a-kid-at-heart aspect of his personality as he was a little blue when his favorite team came up short in a close game.
Unfortunately, though, by inviting anyone and everyone whose dad’s emotional state is affected by the Giants’ on-field performance into the conversation, the tweet brought up a lot more than heartwarming family memories, and instead caused some much less pleasant, more traumatic flashbacks for many commenters, whose replies included:
“All of my memories about my dad and the Giants are terrible ones.”
“So if the Giants didn’t exist, that dad would have had fewer reasons to get into a bad mood.”
“That tweet describes my dad perfectly. If they lost, he’d find some tiny excuse to kick me…That’s why I lost all interest in baseball.”
“It was the worst if they were playing a night game, my dad would monopolize the TV. Then he’d fall asleep in the middle of the game, and when I’d change the channel, he’d suddenly wake up and go berserk, yelling ‘I was watching that.’ I hate baseball.”
“Instead of a dad who just loves baseball, he was a bullying dad who’d change how he treated his family based on how a single baseball game turned out.”
“My dad is a Tigers [the Giants’ rival] fan, and if they lose to the Giants he gets pissed off about all sorts of things he normally wouldn’t get worked up over.”
“Episodes of Dragon Ball would get preempted if the Giants game ran late, and dads would yell if they lost, so I think there are a lot of kids who think of the Giants as their sworn enemies.”
“Getting so into the game that you can’t control your emotions – that’s baseball!”
“It almost seems like the person who created this tweet actually hates the Giants.”
It wasn’t all bad memories, as one commenter chimed in to say that neither they or their father are the type to get angry over sports, and so they’re a family of “calm but passionate Giants fans.” Perhaps the most significant reaction came from someone saying the tweet felt like something from the Showa period, which lasted from 1926 to 1989, but feels out of place in the current Reiwa period, which started in 2019. Japanese societal expectations about the role of fathers has shifted quite a bit in the last 100 years, and while most dads in Japan still feel a strong pressure to provide for their children economically, there’s also an increased sense that they need to be good role models for interpersonal and communication skills, too, which would include having the maturity to not get bent out of shape because their favorite baseball team lost, and to not let such frustrations negatively impact how they treat the other members of their family.
In the Giants’ defense, the intent of the tweet pretty clearly wasn’t to give dads a pass for having a short fuse if the team loses, and the goal was no doubt to humanize dads by showing that they’re fun-loving, passionate people too. In order to get that message across, a more accentuate-the-positive choice of words probably would have worked better, something like “My dad’s smile gets even bigger when the Giants win,” so hopefully they’ll come up with some better phrasing by the time next Father’s Day rolls around.
Source: Twitter/@TokyoGiants via Jin
Top image: Pakutaso
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2025/06/18/japanese-pro-baseball-teams-fathers-day-message-misses-strike-zone-triggers-traumatic-memories/feed/ 0 705355 GF My Neighbor Totoro tie pins and neckties are ready to be presents for your father (or yourself) https://soranews24.com/2023/06/04/my-neighbor-totoro-tie-pins-and-neckties-are-ready-to-be-presents-for-your-father-or-yourself/ https://soranews24.com/2023/06/04/my-neighbor-totoro-tie-pins-and-neckties-are-ready-to-be-presents-for-your-father-or-yourself/#comments Sun, 04 Jun 2023 05:00:20 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=625321 
Studio Ghibli teams up with classic Tokyo menswear company for stylish collection arriving in time for Father’s Day.
Last month, Studio Ghibli specialty store Donguri Kyowakoku was offering beautiful carnation sets for Mother’s Day. This month, it’s Dad’s turn to be on the receiving end of gift-giving, and so just in time for Father’s Day Donguri Kyowakoku has released a brand-new line of My Neighbor Totoro tie pins.
Created in partnership with Mimatsu Shoji, a Tokyo-based men’s formalwear and accessory company founded in 1949, each of the brass tie pins features Ghibli’s instantly recognizable forest spirit, sometimes in more than one size, with a total of six different designs.
▼ Branch tie pin
▼ Leaf and Acorn
▼ Corn
With the solid color scheme and subdued shininess, the Totoro tie pins can easily blend in with formal or business attire. Still, the designs keep Totoro noticeable enough that if the person you’re talking to is a Ghibli anime fan, a smile is sure to appear on their face when they notice the character, as will you when you catch a glimpse of your reflection in a mirror or window.
▼ Umbrella
▼ Long Umbrella
▼ Mushroom
The Totoro tie pins will work, of course, with any necktie you happen to own. If you’re going for a coordinated look, though, the obvious pairing is with one of Donguri Kyowakoku’s new Totoro neckties, also jointly produced with Mimatsu Shoji.
The silk ties, with cotton embroidery, come in three colors, wine red, blue, and navy, and two designs, one with the small white Totoro, flowers, and clovers…
…and the other with the big Totoro and old roses.
The tie pins are priced at 5,500 yen (US$41) and the ties at 9,350, with all of them available for purchase through the Donguri Kyowakoku online shop here. Meanwhile, if you’re a more casual dresser, don’t forget about the new line of Ghibli Museum T-shirts, and if you are planning to dress up in an anime crossover way, don’t wait too long to order your Pokémon dress shirt, since your last chance is coming soon.
Source: Donguri Kyowakoku
Top image: Donguri Kyowakoku
Insert images: Donguri Kyowakoku (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2023/06/04/my-neighbor-totoro-tie-pins-and-neckties-are-ready-to-be-presents-for-your-father-or-yourself/feed/ 0 625321 TT 9 Haven’t found the perfect Father’s Day present yet? Here’re 10 gift ideas from Japan https://soranews24.com/2022/06/15/havent-found-the-perfect-fathers-day-present-yet-herere-10-gift-ideas-from-japan/ https://soranews24.com/2022/06/15/havent-found-the-perfect-fathers-day-present-yet-herere-10-gift-ideas-from-japan/#comments Wed, 15 Jun 2022 05:00:30 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=591462 
This ranking of some of the most popular gifts in Japan might have something your father would like!
Father’s Day is just around the corner! What are you doing for the fatherly figures in your life? If you haven’t gotten a gift yet, don’t worry. While there’s always the option of building him a tower of beer, Chihinohi.jp, which specializes in information and media about Father’s Day in Japan, has collected a list of the top 10 gifts that will make it on time for Father’s Day this weekend for last-minute shoppers in Japan. Based on the page views these products received on Chichinohi.jp between June 1 and 12, these are some great gifts that are sure to make Dad happy.
10. Three-pack Craft Coffee Tasting Set (3,980 yen [US$29.50])
Perfect for the coffee lover in your life, this gift set from Nara-based home roaster Rokumei Coffee comes with three flavors of luxury, additive-free iced coffee: mild, fruity, and bitter.
9. The King’s Foot Pillow (2,860 yen)
This pillow is fit for a king, which means it’s just good enough for Dad. This product has reached number one on Rakuten charts multiple times because the tiny microbeads stuffed inside gently pillow your feet like the softest of clouds. It also comes in four colors.
8. Karuizawa Beer Eight-pack Tasting Set (3,565 yen)
The craft beer in this set is made from the pure, cool waters of the springs of Mt. Asama, near the city of Karuizawa, which is known for its year-long cool climate and beautiful forested mountains. With eight very diverse options of delicious locally brewed beer, it’s sure to please Dad. You can find it on Rakuten for 3,565 yen. Order by 8 p.m. on Friday for it to arrive on time.
7. Tokyo Spice Nana Curry (Chicken Curry flavor) (2,980 yen)
This is a gluten-free, additive-free curry from one of Tokyo’s most popular healthy curry shops, Tokyo Spice Nana Curry Aoyama. But don’t let the word “healthy” turn you off; this curry is so good it’s beloved by healthy eaters and gourmets alike. With five packs of ready-made curry in one set, Dad’s sure to love having the option of an easy, healthy, and delicious meal, especially if he’s a curry fan.
6. Sampler of Nine Luxury Drinking Snacks (3,380 yen)
If Dad’s a fan of sake and likes to have a little snack to go along with it, he might like this set from a 120-year-old shop. It contains nine kinds of dried seafood, including squid, grilled shrimp, and shredded eel, which pair perfectly with a nice cup of sake. With so much variety, Dad can enjoy a different flavor every day.
5. Gourmet Seafood Set Emi (5,546 yen)
Brought to us by a purveyor of Hokkaido delicacies, Shima no Hito, this is a luxury set that’s being sold specially for Father’s Day. It’s stuffed with delicious edible treasures from the northern seas, like ikura (salmon roe), scallops, and hokke, a type of mackeral. If your dad is a foodie but isn’t able to travel much, he’ll really appreciate this fresh box of ocean delicacies from a region in Japan that boasts some of the best.
4. Six-pack Luxury Ochazuke Set (4,980 yen)
Ochazuke is a type of Japanese cuisine in which a green tea broth is poured over rice that’s often topped with seafood and seasoning. In this set, you’ll get six different varieties that include whole, high-quality seafood toppings such as splendid alfonsino, tuna, and eel. The broth, which contains no additives, can be used to make ochazuke or to cook the rice directly, perfect for a chef dad or a foodie dad.
3. Broiled Toyohashi Eel Kohaku Set (6,262 yen)
Eel is considered a luxury delicacy in Japan and makes a great gift for food-lovers. This particular set is one of the most popular items from Natsume Shoten, an unagi (eel) shop that’s been in business for 66 years. Since they have a hand in every aspect of their product, from production to sales, you know their products are high quality. This “Kohaku”, or “Red and White”, set comes with two kinds of broiled eel: one basted in soy sauce (red), and one unseasoned (white), allowing Dad to enjoy the mild texture and umami of the eel with or without the rich, classic soy sauce baste.
2. Father’s Day Limited-edition Five-flavor Craft Beer Tasting Gift (3,685 yen)
This is a case of beer from one of Japan’s best-selling craft beer brands, Yo-ho Brewing. Though it boasts five flavors, the pack comes with ten cans of beer. Their popular Yona Yona Ale, Karuizawa Kogen, Indo no Aooni, Suiyobi no Neko, and Tokyo Black are the flavors included. The set also comes with an explanation booklet about all of them, which beer lovers will appreciate.
1. Unagi-ya Kawasui Three-variety Eel Set (6,380 yen)
At the top of the ranking is another one for foodies: a set of three soy sauce-broiled eels from famous eel shop Unagi-ya Kawasui. It comes with one extra-large whole eel, one eel precut for unagi-don (eel over rice), and a package of chopped eel, but all are ready to eat in whichever way you like, making this the perfect gift for fans of eel.
If you’re looking to have these items delivered by Father’s Day in Japan, the order cutoff dates/times are listed below, and all can be ordered via the Chichinohi website here.
● June 16 (7:30 a.m,): Gourmet Seafood Set Emi
● June 17 (8 p.m.): Karuizawa Beer Eight-pack Tasting Set,
● June 18 (noon): Three-pack Craft Coffee Tasting Set, King’s Foot Pillow, Tokyo Spice Nana Curry, Sampler of Nine Luxury Drinking Snacks, Father’s Day Limited-Edition Five-flavor Craft Beer Tasting Gift, Unagi-ya Kawasui Three-variety Eel Set
● June 18 (1 p.m.): Broiled Toyohashi Eel Kohaku Set
● June 18 (2 p.m.): Six-pack Luxury Ochazuke Set
Essentially, this is a list for people whose dads are foodies and gourmets, but there’s enough variety that you’ll probably find something for the father figure in your life. Plus, the fact that almost everything on this list can be ordered until just the day before is fantastic, so even if you’re running late, you still have time to think about it first. Don’t be one of the people who don’t show their appreciation for their dads…he deserves gifts, too!
Source: PR Times, Chichinohi.jp
Top image: Pakutaso
Insert images: Rakuten (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9), Shima no Hito
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2022/06/15/havent-found-the-perfect-fathers-day-present-yet-herere-10-gift-ideas-from-japan/feed/ 0 591462 FD 1 What happens when our reporters show up to work dressed like their fathers? https://soranews24.com/2021/06/23/what-happens-when-our-reporters-show-up-to-work-dressed-like-their-fathers/ https://soranews24.com/2021/06/23/what-happens-when-our-reporters-show-up-to-work-dressed-like-their-fathers/#comments Wed, 23 Jun 2021 13:00:17 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=546531 
What could go wrong if we give our reporters free access to their dads’ closets?
Here at SoraNews24, we like to make a point of celebrating every holiday. Most of the time, that means eating copious amounts of something delicious because it’s some kind of food day, but this past Sunday was Father’s Day, so our Japanese-language reporters celebrated a little differently: by dressing up like their fathers!
Yes, it’s become a recent tradition in the office to dress up as the person being honored, starting with that time they all dressed up as their partners for Good Spouse Day. In keeping with the tradition, seven of our reporters decided to raid their father’s closets to find an outfit to wear that would show off their dad’s sense of style.
These were our participants:
▼ From right to left, top to bottom: P.K. Sanjun, Go Hatori, Seiji Nakazawa, Yuichiro Wasai, Masanuki Sunakoma, Yoshio, and Jun-kun, a member of the sales staff
The only rule for the “Dress up Like Dad Day” was that the participants could only wear things from their fathers’ closets. Whether that meant casual everyday clothes, work attire, or their New Year’s Eve best was up to each reporter. Another of our Japanese-language reporters, Takashi Harada, had been designated to chronicle the celebration, but he had no idea what to expect from his colleagues. Had they opened Pandora’s box by giving these reporters free reign over their fathers’ closets?
Harada arrived at the office earlier than usual and waited dutifully by the door, eager to see what each reporter would show up wearing. The first person to arrive was…
A 1970s mafia gangster?!
Oh, it’s just Go Hatori.
Everything about Go’s chosen outfit, from the vintage-looking glasses to the high placement of his belt, had a distinct, nostalgic air of days gone by, and yet the whole arrangement had a shifty aura. Perhaps it was the mustache and beard in combination with the retro-looking, short-sleeved pinstripe? Frankly, Takashi was surprised Go hadn’t been stopped by the police on his way to the office.
But that was only the beginning. The next person to arrive at our office door was…
A black market dealer?!
Never mind, that’s Masanuki Sunakoma.
The outfit on its own wasn’t too suspicious, but with the addition of the mask and sunglasses it instantly became a little sketchy. If a guy like this came knocking on our door, we sure wouldn’t be answering it!
So far, all of our reporters’ Showa-era fathers had somewhat suspicious-looking clothes, but at the same time, they were all quite stylish! What else could we expect to see today?
The next person to show up was…
A loan shark?!
Oh, Yoshio, it’s just you.
His outfit was stylish, but definitely sketchy. Was it the sunglasses, or the textured blazer? Hard to say. Either way, we wouldn’t want to borrow money from this guy, because he’d definitely be charging illegal interest rates.
Thus far, three out of three of our participants came wearing sunglasses. Do men in their seventies buy a lot of sunglasses? Hmm.
Anyway, the next to arrive was…
A sleazy businessman?!
P.K., is that you?!
At first glance we thought P.K. Sanjun’s father’s business suit was pretty standard, but there was something about the way Sanjun wore it that made him look like someone a lady wouldn’t want to sit next to on the last train home. It must be the edgy hairstyle and missing tie, or the slightly disheveled look he bore.
Without the mask, though, he seemed a little less creepy, like a businessman letting loose at a drinking party. By the way, this suit was apparently a gift to P.K.’s father for his sixtieth birthday. How sweet!
Shortly after P.K.’s arrival came…
Seiji Nakazawa!
His outfit was decidedly business-like and innocuous, so we recognized him right away. At first glance, his choice of clothing didn’t bring to mind any suspicious characters, but his long, bleach-blond hair didn’t look quite right paired with a button-up shirt and tie. Takashi couldn’t help but think that Seiji looked like an innocent young man who accidentally got wrapped up in some underworld business. Poor guy.
We’re a pretty casual office where we’re generally allowed to wear what we like, so it could also just be that seeing Seiji in a suit was a little disconcerting. Either way, there was something a little off about his getup.
Honestly, as each reporter appeared in his own shifty outfit, we couldn’t help but worry that the police would start watching the building, what with so many shady-looking characters coming in. At this point, we were looking like a mafia hideout. That is, at least, until Jun-kun showed up.
▼ “Morning!”
Jun-kun generally dresses in a slightly more formal style than the rest of his, owing to his position in the sales department, so his appearance in a polo shirt and khakis was only shocking because it was less formal than we’re used to.
His outfit was pretty normal, actually, and Jun-kun’s innocent, youthful face was disarming. But perhaps that’s what makes him dangerous. It’s always the ones in polo shirts that look nice that you have to watch out for. They pretend to act like a normal dad to blend in, but who knows what they’re doing behind closed doors?!
▼ Using their parents’ money to fund an illegal gambling ring or something
Last, but apparently not least, was…
Yu…
Yuichiro?!
Yuichiro Wasai appeared to arrive in his dad’s summer loungewear, yet despite being the only one whose outfit really doesn’t scream “shady”, we still can’t discount it as being not creepy. These clothes indicate a distinct lack of concern for what other people think, which could be a good thing, but which could also mean that underneath the “average ojisan” façade is a dangerous man.
We also can’t help but notice that these light, white summer clothes are just not quite opaque enough to feel appropriate to wear in public…
▼ According to Takashi, this ultra casual style is also popular among bosses in the Chinese mafia, so think of that what you will.
At this point, all seven of our members had arrived! (Wait, when did they become “members”?!) Posing together, they really did look like a suspicious lot…
But once all the reveals were made and the photos were taken, everyone had to get to work, funny clothes or not, and as Takashi watched them sit down at their desks, he couldn’t help but think he’d accidentally stumbled into a yakuza hideout.
Still, dressing in their father’s clothes really seemed to settle our reporters. There was a distinct air of seriousness and hard work in the office. Could it be that they were channeling their dads’ Showa-era work ethics?
Well, they are all old enough to be considered middle-aged, and some of them are fathers themselves, so it’s to be expected that they, too, would work hard for their families.
By the way, Mr. Sato couldn’t make it on the day, but he also dressed up in his dad’s clothes!
His outfit, made up of a UNIQLO T-shirt and gym shorts, was much more normal, much as we would expect from the father of our gentle and kind Mr. Sato.
There’s no gangster here! (Even if the police do tend to find him suspicious-looking on a general basis.)
▼ We especially liked the minions hat!
Finally, in honor of our Father’s Day, here’s a special look at each of our reporters’ fathers from when they were young:
▼ Mr. Sato’s dad (at the age of 22)
▼ Yoshio’s dad (at 44)
▼ Yuichiro’s Dad (at 34)
▼ P.K.’s dad (at 30)
▼ Masanuki’s dad (at 35)
▼ Go’s dad (at 35)
▼ Seiji’s dad (at 30)
Fathers work hard for their families, even when that means they don’t get to spend much time with them. So we hope you were able to take time this Father’s Day to express your gratitude to the father figures in your life. They appreciate it more than you know!
Images © SoraNews24
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2021/06/23/what-happens-when-our-reporters-show-up-to-work-dressed-like-their-fathers/feed/ 0 546531 father's day1 Happy Father’s Day, Japan-style with the Asahi Super Dry beer tower set【Photos】 https://soranews24.com/2021/06/14/happy-fathers-day-japan-style-with-the-asahi-super-dry-beer-tower-set%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2021/06/14/happy-fathers-day-japan-style-with-the-asahi-super-dry-beer-tower-set%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/#comments Mon, 14 Jun 2021 05:00:08 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=545477 
After going to all the trouble to raise you, doesn’t Dad probably need more than just a six-pack?
Shopping for a Mother’s Day gift is pretty easy in Japan. Though the tradition didn’t originate here, most Japanese people strongly associate Mother’s Day with carnations, and so a bouquet of the flowers is always a safe choice to say thank you to the woman who gave birth to you.
Things get a little trickier with Father’s Day, though. Yes, a lot of people pick out a necktie for dad, but maybe an indirect reminder of all the hours he spent at the office, grinding away in order to be a good provider, isn’t what he really wants. Maybe he just wants to crack open a cold one and relax, which is where beer maker Asahi comes in.
Asashi offers a variety of gift sets in its Super Dry lineup, and the most festive is the Asahi Super Dry Beer Tower Gift Set. With Father’s Day coming up fast, our Japanese-language reporter Masanuki Sunakoma thought the tower would be a great way to show his gratitude, and also to retroactively apologize for any dumb things he did while growing up which may have made his dad think “Man, I need a drink.”
The set contains 14 350-mililiter (11.8-ounce) cans of Asahi Super Dry, plus an assortment of accoutrements for an extra-festive appearance.
The box itself forms the very bottom of the tower, onto which you stack six cans. Once you’ve got them set up (with labels facing outward for maximum classiness), you place one of the included trays on top of them, then set up a second tier of five more cans.
A second included tray goes on top of them and serves as the base for the three remaining cans.
Next up, it’s time to decorate the tower. The set includes a “Thanks” star and streamer, which Masanuki tied and wrapped around the silver pillar.
Finally, there’s even a balloon, which he blew up and added as the finishing touch.
▼ Finished!
For an extra personal touch, Asahi has also set up a special website where you can make your own Kampai Message (“Cheers Message”) video, using either a photo of yourself or selecting parts for an illustrated avatar.
▼ “Cheers!”
▼ Masanuki’s message to his dad: “Thank you! Please accept this beer tower.”
And with that, all that’s left for Masanuki to do is wait until Father’s Day rolls around and present his dad with his gift.
However, it turns out there’s one big problem with Masanuki’s plan, in that he’s now got a bunch of beer sitting around…
…and the temptation to snag one for himself was too great to resist.
So, though we’re still a few days early, happy Father’s Day, Mr. Sunakoma, and we hope you enjoy your 13 cans of Asahi. For anyone else who’d like to follow Masanuki’s example (as far as giving your dad an Asahi Super Dry beer tower, not stealing one of his beers), the Beer Tower Gift Set can be ordered via the links at the bottom of Asahi’s gift website here, while the Kampai Message video maker site, which requires no purchase to use, is here.
Related: Asahi Beer
Photos ©SoraNews24
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2021/06/14/happy-fathers-day-japan-style-with-the-asahi-super-dry-beer-tower-set%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 545477 AS 0 11 different ways to say “father” in Japanese https://soranews24.com/2020/06/21/11-different-ways-to-say-father-in-japanese/ https://soranews24.com/2020/06/21/11-different-ways-to-say-father-in-japanese/#comments Sun, 21 Jun 2020 09:00:13 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=506172 
Otou-san is just the tip of the paternal iceberg.
Just like the U.S., Japan celebrates Father’s Day on the third Sunday in June. The way Japan celebrates it is pretty similar too: presents, dinner out, and a greater willingness to just let dad relax and sip his beer in peace while relaxing on the couch and watching golf on TV.
Some things are still uniquely Japanese, though. With Father’s Day coming at the start of the summer, a nice jinbei (a traditional Japanese roomwear garment) is a popular present, and some of the top restaurant picks are yakiniku or kaitenzushi (revolving sushi) joints. And of course, they don’t call it “Father’s Day” in Japan, since there’s a Japanese word for “father.”
Well, actually, there are a ton of different ways to say “father” in Japanese, and what better day to take a look at them than today?
1. otou-san / お父さん
Technically we’re going to look at five different but related terms here in entry #1.
If you’ve ever taken an introductory Japanese class, or watched many J-dramas or anime, this is probably the first one you learned. Otou-san is the most common, broadly usable phrase for father/dad in Japanese.
At the same time, it’s actually just one of many arrangements in a surprisingly flexible system. -san is the standard suffix to show politeness when talking about a person in Japan, but if you want to kick the politeness/formality up a notch, you can change it to otou-sama. On the other hand, if you want to go the other way and make it sound more sweetly affectionate, you can say otou-chan (though that one’s most commonly used by little kids). As a quick-and-simple rough equivalency list you can generally think of otou-san as “dad,” otou-sama as “father,” and otou-chan as “daddy.”
Speaking of politeness, the o at the start of otou-san is itself a politeness-boosting prefix, so you can remove it and just say tou-san or tou-chan. Tou-sama, however, is a combination you’ll never hear, since -sama itself is too formal to fit with the dropped o.
One important thing to keep in mind: since politeness towards others and humility regarding yourself/your own family are considered good manners in Japanese culture, when you’re talking about someone else’s father, it’s best to stick with otou-san or otou-sama, the most polite options. Out of the two, otou-san is usually the wisest choice, since otou-sama can sound a little baroque, and it’s also best to avoid otou-sama when talking about your own dad, since it can make you sound conceited about your father’s status, or perhaps intimidated by his stature.
2. chichi / 父
Our second way to say father, chichi, is actually written with the exact same kanji character as the “tou” part of otou-san (父), just with no additional hiragana characters in front of or behind it. That unfettered status makes chichi the most absolutely neutral way to say father in Japanese, and so the lack of added politeness means you usually don’t use it to talk about someone else’s dad.
However, there’s a school of thought that you absolutely should use chichi when talking about your own dad once you reach adulthood. The logic is that otou-san and its various alternate forms are all, to some extent, terms of respect. As such, if you’re talking to someone else and use the term otou-san to refer to your own father, the linguistic implication is that you’re saying that your dad occupies a position of higher respect than the person you’re talking to.
If you’re a little kid talking to another little kid, that’s not an issue, since adults are generally in a position of authority compared to children. But if you’re a full-grown adult talking to another adult, it’d be kind of presumptuous to talk as though your dad is in a position that demands the other person’s respect like it’s a matter of course, and so chichi, in some people’s minds, becomes the better choice for talking about your own dad in grown-up conversations.
All that said, “you shouldn’t use otou-san for talking about your own dad to other people” is an admittedly old-school way of thinking, and a guideline that younger Japanese people are increasingly less likely to adhere to or worry about. And last, chichi is the word used in the Japanese term for father’s day, Chichi no Hi.
3. papa / パパ
Yep, papa. Just like in English and many European languages, papa is now readily understood in Japanese. It does, however, have a very childish ring to it, and so it’s something that most kids, especially boys, start growing out of by the time they finish elementary school. Some women continue to use it into adulthood, but even then primarily when speaking directly to their father or other family members, not in conversations with other people, to avoid being seen as a daddy’s girl.
4. oyaji / 親父 / おやじ
Oyaji is really two vocabulary words in one. Written with the kanji characters for “parent” (親) and “father” (父), it not only means dad, but is also a generic term for a middle-aged or elderly man.
Oyaji is the roughest-sounding term on our list, but said with enough warmth in your voice, it can also radiate a certain masculine jovialness, and is almost exclusively used by men.
▼ Pictured: Mr. Sato’s dad, who he calls “oyaji”
In English, oyaji is closest to “pop” or “pops.” In keeping with that casualness, while oyaji can be written in kanji, you’ll also often see it written in hiragana, which has a less formal feel. And yes, you may have also heard oyaji as part of the phrase “ero oyaji” (“dirty old man”).
5. oton / おとん
As we move further down the list, we’re also moving farther out into the countryside. To people from Tokyo and east Japan, oton has a decidedly country bumpkin feel, sort of like “pa” in English.
But oton isn’t strictly for yokels, and as you head west from Tokyo, you’ll start to hear it used by people who speak Kansai dialect, the style of Japanese prevalent in and around Osaka. That said, oton always carries a bit of a rustic feeling, and while some may say that’s just backwoods charm, it’ll probably earn a few chuckles if you say it in a formal situation.
6. chichiue / 父上
On the surface, chichiue looks like it shouldn’t be all that different from chichi. After all, it’s just the same “dad” kanji as chichi (父) with 上, meaning “up” or “above,” tacked onto the end. So it’s just a polite way of saying father, right?
Sure…if you happen to be a samurai. Chichiue is an extremely old-fashioned way of speaking, and it’s more or less like saying “exalted father.”
7. chichioya / 父親
And last, we come to chichioya. Written by reversing the kanji for oyaji, putting “father” first and “parent” second. Chichioya is a useful term for talking about fathers in a general or societal sense, perhaps in a prepared announcement or written statement. Generally, though it’s not so commonly used in conversation to talk about a specific person’s father, and especially not your own.
So just like when we looked at the different ways to say “love,” once again Japanese proves itself to be a seriously deep language. Thanks for reading, and happy Father’s Day to you and your dad, whatever you call him.
Top image: Pakutaso
Insert images: Pakutaso (1, 2, 3), SoraNews24, Pakutaso (5)
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/06/21/11-different-ways-to-say-father-in-japanese/feed/ 0 506172 FD 11 Who’s that Dad? Curious and political Father’s Day portraits show up at a supermarket in Japan https://soranews24.com/2018/06/20/whos-that-dad-curious-and-political-fathers-day-portraits-show-up-at-a-supermarket-in-japan/ https://soranews24.com/2018/06/20/whos-that-dad-curious-and-political-fathers-day-portraits-show-up-at-a-supermarket-in-japan/#comments Wed, 20 Jun 2018 01:00:19 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=416570 Japanese Twitter gets a good laugh out of these great examples of a common elementary school exercise. Happy Father’s Day!
Many countries celebrate Father’s Day on the third Sunday in June, and Japan is no exception. Friday, June 17 saw the gifting of many an adorable hand-drawn card, not to mention huge amounts of beer, cake sets and bitter chocolate. Sometimes even local shops get in on the action, having customers (presumably young children, but not always) construct crafts or draw pictures to celebrate their ever-toiling papas.
Twitter user @NITKC_gorilla snapped a picture of a particularly grand exhibition of these drawings and shared it with Twitter. It’s so lovely when children put in hard work to capture their parents, isn’t it?
▼ “Perfect timing! LMAO”
https://twitter.com/NITKC_gorilla/status/1006726506024857600
Each of the papers is labelled ‘A Picture of Dad‘. The gentleman on the left, allegedly drawn by “Yusuke Hayashi”, has very expressive eyebrows, and appears to be alarmed by the spectral images surrounding him: perhaps a creative imagining of the classic angel and devil on the shoulder? Though wait, the craggly stick figure on the left of him is labelled “Me”. and the one to the right is labelled “Mama”. Whoops.
Mr. Hayashi thanks his father for “always working hard at your job and making our days bright”. We wonder if he got some assistance with this piece? The stick figures seem to be drawn by an entirely different hand, and display none of the technical knowledge of shadow and light that went into depicting his father. We also have a weird feeling we’ve seen this face before?
▼ 57th Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe
Must just be my imagination.
Moving on to the image in the center, “Moemi Taki” has drawn her father with a dignified and curlicued hairstyle and distinctive crow’s feet. Pretty obvious that her dad is a foreigner, what with the pronounced, lengthy nose compared to the other portraits – so it’s unsurprising that her message is in flawless English. “Thank you for being awesome!” isn’t said to enough dads in general, is it? Though, uh, now that we think on it, this dad looks familiar too…
▼ 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump
The last portrait is of a jolly looking dad in glasses. The message by artist “Takahiro Fukui” is cut off, but seems to be the tune of “Thanks for all your hard work!”. Again, we have some beautiful interplay of shadow here, particularly to define the features, and – wait, hold on a minute!
▼ This is just a traced picture of 1st Supreme Leader of North Korea, Kim Il-sung!
The first two artists cite their ages as “22 years old”, which explains the dexterity with which “they”(?) recreated these politicians’ images. Presumably Fukui is the same age, but we can’t see it in the picture.
The original poster helpfully provided a nice comparison image.
https://twitter.com/NITKC_gorilla/status/1007253540673384448
In the resulting thread there was a copious amount of laughter at the uncanny resemblances, applauding the obvious adult who pulled it off, and puzzling over why the artist chose to draw Kim Il-sung rather than his more currently relevant grandson Kim Jong-un. One user lamented “I wish they’d drawn Ms. Akie Abe more accurately”, but hey, Mother’s Day was back in May. It’s officially Mr. Abe’s time to shine.
More than one user questioned the veracity of the pictures, but @NITKC_gorilla stood firm that the posters were hung up in a local supermarket. Personally, I think it looks like one child’s father saw his kid working on a portrait and was inspired to whip up his own art in response, and here at SoraNews24 we’re all about that kind of mutual creativity!
Source: Twitter/@NITKC_gorilla
Featured image: Twitter/@NITKC_gorilla
Insert images: Wikimedia Commons/Asmithca, Wikimedia Commons/Stemoc, Wikimedia Commons/Agranome et Chofers
]]> https://soranews24.com/2018/06/20/whos-that-dad-curious-and-political-fathers-day-portraits-show-up-at-a-supermarket-in-japan/feed/ 0 416570 Screenshot_3 Loving Japanese son accidentally feeds dog snacks to his family on Father’s Day https://soranews24.com/2018/06/20/loving-japanese-son-accidentally-feeds-dog-snacks-to-his-family-on-fathers-day/ https://soranews24.com/2018/06/20/loving-japanese-son-accidentally-feeds-dog-snacks-to-his-family-on-fathers-day/#comments Tue, 19 Jun 2018 17:30:09 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=416606 
Satisfied diners say the food was “delicious.”
While some dads in Japan are tragically ignored on Father’s Day, manga artist Miso Suzuki (@MisoSuzuki on Twitter) is a much more devoted son. So instead of treating last Sunday like any other day, he decided to do something special by making a batch of miso soup for his family members to share.
Granted, miso soup itself is a pretty common part of the Japanese diet, but Suzuki decided to make “niboshi miso soup” by mixing in some dried sardines (niboshi) for an extra-gourmet touch. So he grabbed a bag of the fish and got cooking, and when he served his creation to his family, they all remarked about how delicious it was.
Perhaps basking in pride at his culinary success, Suzuki went back to look at the sardines’ packaging one more time, and only then made a startling discovery.
父の日なので今まで使ったことのない煮干しで味噌汁を作ってみた。美味いと家族に評判。
裏を見て愕然としてる。 pic.twitter.com/FckGEaSRVY
— 鈴木みそ (@MisoSuzuki) June 17, 2018
At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be anything upsetting on the front of the bag. Sure, it identifies the sardines as coming from budget-priced line Top Valu, but it also proudly proclaims that the fish were caught and processed in Japan, which imparts a premium prestige to them. No, the problem came on the backside of the bag, which identifies the product as “dried sardines to be eaten by pet dogs and cats.”
▼ “Hey, quit hogging my munchies!”
What’s more, the bag’s backside specifies that these are to be given to your animal companions as obedience rewards, which had Twitter commenters chuckling at Suzuki essentially giving his family treats for being well-trained. Another look at the front of the bag shows that the promotional text there eventually gets around to mentioning obedience rewards, although nothing in the text talks about pets, and the stylized illustration of a dog and cat in the bottom right corner don’t necessarily leap out and grab attention.
It’s not clear if Suzuki is a pet owner who simply put his animals’ snacks in the regular pantry by mistake, or if he bought the for-dogs/cats sardines entirely by mistake. Either way, he did feed them to his family, saying his was “appalled” at himself once he’d realized what he’d done (he doesn’t mention how his family took the news, or if he even told them).
As bad as Suzuki felt, other commenters tried to ease his guilt, saying that they’d made the same mistake themselves. Others said that aside from the for-pets sardines being lower in sodium, they think they’re the same as for-humans varieties, meaning Suzuki’s accidental soup was actually healthier than it would have been otherwise. And finally, as our reporters themselves can attest to, eating dog food won’t kill you.
Just don’t expect your family to ask for seconds once they know the ingredient list.
Source: Twitter/@MisoSuzuki via Hachima Kiko
Top image: Pakutaso
Insert image: Pakutaso
]]> https://soranews24.com/2018/06/20/loving-japanese-son-accidentally-feeds-dog-snacks-to-his-family-on-fathers-day/feed/ 0 416606 DS 1 Japanese fathers lack appreciation on Father’s Day, urged to celebrate it for themselves https://soranews24.com/2018/06/19/japanese-fathers-lack-appreciation-on-fathers-day-urged-to-celebrate-it-for-themselves/ https://soranews24.com/2018/06/19/japanese-fathers-lack-appreciation-on-fathers-day-urged-to-celebrate-it-for-themselves/#comments Tue, 19 Jun 2018 14:00:42 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=416516 
A survey revealed that more than half of adults weren’t planning to give their dads gifts, leaving them sadly un-celebrated.
Being a mother can definitely be a hard, thankless, and frustrating job, because oftentimes it feels like no one appreciates all that you do. But sometimes it seems like people forget that being a dad is hard too, especially in Japan, where men primarily bring home the bacon, and where working long hours, even when you’re sick, is the norm.
That’s why we have Mother’s Day and Father’s Day: to celebrate our parents and to show respect for how hard they work and all of the sacrifices they’ve made for us. Yet sadly in Japan, Father’s Day doesn’t seem to get near as much celebration as Mother’s Day.
▼ And dads everywhere cry out in despair.
When asked in a survey whether they were planning to give their father a gift to on Father’s Day, only 46 percent of men and women between the ages of 20 and 69 responded “Yes”, compared to about 60 percent who said “Yes” for Mother’s Day. Frankly both of those percentages are too low, but it definitely looks like fathers are getting the shortest end of the stick.
That’s why Yahoo! Japan Shopping, the sponsor of the survey, came up a with a new concept for those poor dads who aren’t getting the love they deserve: “Father’s Day Self-Celebration”. The idea is to buy something that your whole family will love for Father’s Day, in order to get them to spend time together with you and to gain some appreciation from them.
▼ You could also cook something for your family…but this guy doesn’t seem to be a fan of cooking his own Father:s Day dinner.
If you’re one of those fathers who really doesn’t expect much on Father’s Day, Yahoo! wants you to know that they have what you need to make your own celebration. Why not order yourself some cold beers, or a delicious crab meat dinner? Maybe your family will notice your efforts and actually celebrate with you!
Seriously? On a day when their family is supposed to celebrate them, Yahoo! is encouraging dads to go and buy their family a gift (not even a gift for themselves!) and ask their family to spend time with them? How sad is that?
▼ Hopefully they won’t end up playing Jenga by themselves like this guy…
By the way, Yahoo! also asked the participants why they don’t plan to give anything for Father’s Day, and far and away the number-one answer was: “I don’t know what to give him.” Well, for those people, the Internet portal may also offer a convenient solution. In hindsight, that might have actually been a better sales pitch. Swing and a miss, Yahoo! Japan Shopping.
Regardless, don’t let your dad celebrate Father’s Day alone! It may have already passed, but if you haven’t called or given him something yet, you still have time. He will appreciate it even if it’s late, because he loves you, even if you don’t realize it.
Source: Press release
Top Image: Pakutaso
Insert Images: Pakutaso (1, 2, 3)
]]> https://soranews24.com/2018/06/19/japanese-fathers-lack-appreciation-on-fathers-day-urged-to-celebrate-it-for-themselves/feed/ 0 416516 sad man Son’s schedule for dad on Father’s Day is planned down to the minute, includes alien picture show https://soranews24.com/2016/06/21/sons-schedule-for-dad-on-fathers-day-is-planned-down-to-the-minute-includes-alien-picture-show/ https://soranews24.com/2016/06/21/sons-schedule-for-dad-on-fathers-day-is-planned-down-to-the-minute-includes-alien-picture-show/#comments Tue, 21 Jun 2016 08:30:49 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=327933 
So what did YOU do for your father?
In grade school I remember, in the week prior to Father’s Day, we would make some sort of cute, clever craft to give to our dads. As I grew older and more adept in the kitchen, there may have been a breakfast-in-bed or two, and then, with an income from part-time jobs, I was able to buy more elaborate gifts or treat my dad out to dinner.
I do love my dear ol’ dad, but I’m ashamed to admit that I never planned out an entire schedule of Father’s Day events, like this Japanese father was treated to this past Sunday. @hajime0912 tweeted a photo he took of a schedule his son wrote up for the morning to celebrate his pops.
▼ “My son’s enthusiasm for Father’s Day is scary. And what exactly is an alien picture story show?”
息子の父の日にかける情熱が怖い。
特にこの宇宙人紙芝居ってなに。 pic.twitter.com/EY8as2IuQg— モブへーナ (@hajime0912) June 18, 2016
Father’s Day
・Opening greeting 10:00~10:05
・Shirt present 10:05~10:07
・Paper plane competition 10:07~10:27
・Alien picture story show 10:27~10:37
・Treat to sushi 10:37~10:47
・A word of appreciation 10:47~10:50
・Take pictures 10:50~10:51
・Final closing speech 10:51~10:55
@hajime0912’s son planned out nearly an hour of events, scheduled down to the minute, to show his appreciation. Not only would there be presents, there would also be a paper airplane competition, an alien picture story show (which Dad seems just as confused about as we are), pictures, and SUSHI!
▼ “Being treated to sushi at my son’s Father’s Day celebration party.”
息子主催、父の日を祝う会にて寿司ふるまい中。 pic.twitter.com/VL2P4B3sJC
— モブへーナ (@hajime0912) June 19, 2016
It looks like he got quite the spread of delicious sushi (with extra fiber). His son even made a sign of “entrance fees” for the sushi restaurant: Giants pay 1,000 yen (US$9.60), while other humans just 100 yen ($0.96). Dogs, cats, and bugs can enter and enjoy some sushi too, it seems, for five yen, two yen, and seven yen, respectively! He also notes that stink bugs are not allowed.
All in all, it seems that @hajime0912 was very appreciated this Father’s Day. We hope that you all took the time to reach out and thank the dads and father-figures in your life too!
Source: Twitter/@hajime0912 (1, 2)
Top image: Twitter/@hajime0912
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/06/21/sons-schedule-for-dad-on-fathers-day-is-planned-down-to-the-minute-includes-alien-picture-show/feed/ 0 327933 top top Make Father’s Day sweet this year with these lovable treats from Ginza Cozy Corner! https://soranews24.com/2016/06/06/make-fathers-day-sweet-this-year-with-these-lovable-treats-from-ginza-cozy-corner/ https://soranews24.com/2016/06/06/make-fathers-day-sweet-this-year-with-these-lovable-treats-from-ginza-cozy-corner/#comments Mon, 06 Jun 2016 04:00:50 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=324151 
If your dad’s fond of sweets, then Ginza Cozy Corner has a great way for you to celebrate Father’s Day this year!
With Father’s Day coming up on June 19, Japanese confection maker Ginza Cozy Corner is once again offering some delectable-looking treats that seem perfect for the occasion.
Here’s their selection of exclusive Father’s Day confections that we’re sure will taste as sweet as they look!
・”Father’s Day Party”, set of nine cakes (1,998 yen/US$18.75)
This box of mini cakes offers a selection of colorful sweets including a cute tart decorated with a chocolate mustache, a peach roll cake topped with a shirt-shaped piece of white chocolate and a fruit roll cake with a lovely rose decoration on top, among others.
▼ They all look so cute, you’ll have trouble choosing which cake to eat first!
・“Father’s Day Party”, set of 12 cakes (2,646 yen)
If nine cakes aren’t quite enough, they also have a selection of 12 mini cakes as well.
・ “Let’s Have a Toast” Jelly, apple flavor (313 yen)
For kids who can’t share an actual toast with their dads, this jelly in the shape of a frothy jug of beer should prove to be a bit of good fun. The jelly is apple flavored, topped with lemon meringue made to look like foam.
・ “Let’s Have a Toast” Jelly, grape flavor (313 yen)
And this version with grape -flavored jelly could maybe pass for stout beer … although it should taste as sweet as grape juice!
・ “Thank you” Cheese Soufflé (572 yen)
Ginza Cozy Corner’s cheese soufflé has been a popular item for quite some time and they’ve turned it into a Father’s Day item by adding a “Thank You” message and a small yellow rose decoration.
So, if Dad is partial to cakes, a family tea and dessert gathering with these tasty looking treats might be a sweet and relaxing way to celebrate Father’s Day this year. Of course, in our book, any time is a good time to enjoy Ginza Cozy Corner’s cakes, but it’s always nice to have a really good excuse to celebrate, right?
Reference and photos: PR TIMES press release
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/06/06/make-fathers-day-sweet-this-year-with-these-lovable-treats-from-ginza-cozy-corner/feed/ 0 324151 d4367-362-105076-1 main sub1 sub2 sub4 sub5 sub3 Japanese Father’s Day present features business daifuku sweets on a crowded train https://soranews24.com/2016/06/05/japanese-fathers-day-present-features-business-daifuku-sweets-on-a-crowded-train/ https://soranews24.com/2016/06/05/japanese-fathers-day-present-features-business-daifuku-sweets-on-a-crowded-train/#comments Sun, 05 Jun 2016 13:00:37 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=324207 
A little something to let dad know you understand what he goes through on his daily commute to work everyday.
With Father’s Day just around the corner, on 19 June, it’s time for Japanese confectioners to delight our senses with limited-edition collections of sweets aimed at the male market. For Yaguma Dango, a traditional confectionery store based in Aichi Prefecture, this special day of thanks means dressing up their daifuku glutinous rice cakes in cute packaging that includes a variety of neckties and glasses, bringing them to life as adorable working-class characters.
The seven character daifuku might look serious on the outside, but on the inside they’re really sweet, with the pink varieties containing a smooth adzuki red bean jam along with fresh cream and the white versions packed with a cream and whole-bean adzuki jam centre. Featuring a lucky red-and-white colour combination, daifuku literally translates to “good luck”, which adds a special element to the Father’s Day gift.
On the back of every sweet, soft rice cake, there are a number of different messages, including: “Thanks for everything you do for family”; “Make sure you take care of your health and stay well!”; and “Sorry all I ever do is make you worry”.
And because this is Japan, the work-centric series is served up in a packed commuter train, to fully acknowledge the efforts dad goes through every day on his peak-hour commute.
▼ There’s no room to move with the six workers all sandwiched against each other behind the driver.
Each pack also comes with a special “relax card”, featuring a low table with snacks and a beer, along with a cute cat, so you can give your fatherly sweet a well-deserved break once he alights from the packed train.
The adorable daifuku set retails for 1,296 yen (US$12.16), plus the cost of refrigerated delivery from Rakuten, and is available for a limited time until stock sells out.
Source, Images: @Press
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/06/05/japanese-fathers-day-present-features-business-daifuku-sweets-on-a-crowded-train/feed/ 0 324207 Father's Day10 Father's Day10 Father's Day7 Father's Day12 Father's Day13 Father's Day3 Father's Day4 fathers-day11 Father's Day1 Ensure your dad gets a cold one this Father’s day with Yebisu’s cold-detecting cans https://soranews24.com/2016/06/01/ensure-your-dad-gets-a-cold-one-this-fathers-day-with-yebisus-cold-detecting-cans/ https://soranews24.com/2016/06/01/ensure-your-dad-gets-a-cold-one-this-fathers-day-with-yebisus-cold-detecting-cans/#comments Wed, 01 Jun 2016 06:00:09 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=323406 
Nothing says, “Thanks, Dad,” like a perfectly chilled beer!
With Mother’s Day having come and gone, it’s time to start thinking about the dads and father figures of the world. Some of them might be hard to buy for and there are so many gifts to choose from, but we’ve got a new special gift that you can add to the list: cans of Yebisu beer that change color!
As a special treat for Father’s Day, Yebisu, a division of Sapporo, is producing a limited-time can that features a necktie and a rose on it. When the beer is room temperature (the wrong temperature), they remain white, but cool the can to below 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit), and the tie and rose turn a manly shade of pink!
▼ This Yebisu beer contains 5 percent alcohol.
If you are a father, you know your heart melts a little bit when your loved one brings you a nice cold brew. Now you can know for certain that it’s just the right temperature! But be sure to specify that you want the beer with the pink tie and rose, or else you might end up with an actual pink tie and flowers — and those contain exactly zero percent alcohol.
Source: Entabe
Images: PR Times (top image edited by RocketNews24)
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/06/01/ensure-your-dad-gets-a-cold-one-this-fathers-day-with-yebisus-cold-detecting-cans/feed/ 0 323406 yebisu 4 yebisu 1 There’s something not quite right about these mannequins… https://soranews24.com/2014/06/13/theres-something-not-quite-right-about-these-mannequins/ https://soranews24.com/2014/06/13/theres-something-not-quite-right-about-these-mannequins/#comments Thu, 12 Jun 2014 23:30:47 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=155940 
“Hey, you, go dress the mannequins in the window. Do whatever you want, but make sure you show off this season’s gift items. And make it summer-y, you know. It’s getting warmer, after all.” “Ok, boss, whatever you say…”
We have no idea whether this was employee sabotage or a knowing campaign, but this window display is certainly attracting attention in all the right places.
▼ Tie rack sold separately.
Some netizens here in Japan were quick to point out similarities with a certain type of traditional Japanese mens’ underwear:
Fundoshi, in case you were wondering, are worn at festivals (especially the kind with “naked” in the title):
…and of course in the RocketNews24 office!
▼”Who orders bottom-half-only mannequins for a tie shop, anyway?”
Seeing as the two products on show are ties and men’s socks, we reckon this is probably a Father’s Day promotion (it’s this Sunday in many countries, folks!). Further evidence:
▼ Card that reads “Happy Father’s Day”. Probably. Right?
Source: TOYCHAN
Top image: @gyo_pu via Twitter, edited by RocketNews24 Other images: @gyo_pu, xmonsterhunter, CES / Wikimedia, RocketNews24, @gyo_pu.
]]> https://soranews24.com/2014/06/13/theres-something-not-quite-right-about-these-mannequins/feed/ 0 155940 photofun-3006210857 photofun-3006210857 BpkCHRJIcAA4DNf 2 fundoshi step by step guide 800px-Hadaka_Matsuri_small fundoshi BpkCHRJIcAA4DNf happyfathersday